"I will support anything I can to rehabilitate people, but also make sure that people who are not rehabilitated should not, because of their past record, be able to purchase a gun through a commercial sale." Senator Joe Manchin said this in response to his new legislation requiring background checks for anyone commercially buying a firearm regardless of means. He did this in response to the Navy Yard Shootings in which the perpetrator, Aaron Alexis, killed 12 people and exhibited signs of mental disquiet several years beforehand. Senator Lindsay Graham, knowing Congress could do some good that arena, attempted to revive interest in the bill. The article goes on to emphasize the loopholes of the background check required for commercial gun purchase; particularly that with ongoing or past mental health issues. Another thing that is covered is the effect of the Affordable Care Act—or Obamacare, as dubbed by its opponents. It would allow more opportunity for coverage for those without mental health services.
Though it's not as overt, there is a stigma bias. That said, it is balanced out by glimmers of modern intelligence. The senators seem to agree that the deterioration of his mental health is the issue to address. However, this thinking only came about because the background check bill failed. The focus on mental health seems to be only a means to the end of gun control, in clearer words. For example, none of the senators say anything on mental illness that not phrased in politically correct wordplay. Another sign is that the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was mentioned at the end of the article—and only as an afterthought at that. That brings me to the opening quote of the entry.
The base meaning of Senator Manchin words was quite derogatory and only those truly versed in the field would catch it. Anything to rehabilitate people could mean medical treatment—the drugs, particularly—hospital stays, or prison; that part of the quote depends on the mindset and tolerance of the person in question. I also find the idea that you should have to “Also make sure that people who are not rehabilitated should not, because of their past record, be able to purchase a gun through a commercial sale," is terribly flawed. From what I've seen and experienced, any illness can last for some time—especially if not treated correctly. Aaron Alexis was going through something that was likely spawned in the Navy. The armed services in the U.S. aren’t known for being free-thinking and tolerant, which likely factored into his treatment—or lack of, possibly. His further acts, though heinous, were the result of his cries for help not being heard. All those factors went into the serviceman’s acts and Senator Manchin's quote oversimplifies the issue.
This article showed that the Congress has taken some steps in his direction of tolerance; they have no less than several decades of steps to go. Professionals and sympathizers to the cause saw what Congress is just noticing long ago—and only due to its influence in another issue. I'm certain that despite my review of Joe Manchin's quote that on some level he cares, but as the rule of politics goes, you can do nothing without influence. It doesn't excuse the fact that this issue is being used as a political chess piece, however.
